Supreme Court directive on electoral bonds : During the hearing in the Supreme Court regarding the disclosure of all the details by SBI regarding electoral bonds, the apex court said in a strict tone that SBI should hand over all the information to the Election Commission by 5 pm on March 21.
During the hearing in the Supreme Court on disclosure of all details related to electoral bonds, Chief Justice Chandrachud said that SBI should not be selective in disclosing the details. We want that all the information related to electoral bonds, which is with SBI, should be made public. During the hearing, the Supreme Court said that we had asked SBI to disclose all the details and this also included the electoral bond numbers. SBI should give complete information related to electoral bonds. The Supreme Court said in a strict tone that whatever information is available should be disclosed. SBI should follow our order.
We will give every information, will not keep any hidden : Senior advocate Harish Salve
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for SBI, told the Supreme Court that we will give all the information including the number of the electoral bond. The Bank will not keep any information in its possession hidden. During the hearing, the Supreme Court said that SBI will also file an affidavit stating that it has not hidden any information. The court said that SBI should provide all the information by 5 pm on March 21.
Request to consider some instructions on the matter : Solicitor General Tushar Mehta
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the Supreme Court that the ultimate objective was to curb black money and the apex court should know how this judgment is being played outside the court. During this, Tushar Mehta has asked the Supreme Court to consider issuing some instructions in this regard. A series of social media posts have started in this matter.
Supreme Court gave strict instructions : Advocate Prashant Bhushan
Advocate Prashant Bhushan said that the Supreme Court reprimanded SBI during the hearing. The court asked SBI why there is no number on each bond in the information related to electoral bonds. Prashant Bhushan said that the court asked SBI in a strict tone to disclose this. SBI will have to file an affidavit by 5 pm on March 21.
We work according to the Constitution- CJI Chandrachud
Supreme Court Chief Justice Chandrachud said that we work according to the rule of law and the Constitution. We are also discussed as judges. We are only implementing our instructions of the judgement.
Supreme Court had given instructions
In fact, State Bank of India has issued electoral bonds worth Rs 16,518 crore in 30 installments since the launch of the scheme in 2018. Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed SBI to hand over the information about electoral bonds purchased from April 12, 2019 to the Election Commission. SBI is the authorized financial institution to issue electoral bonds.
SBI had handed over the data
SBI on Tuesday evening submitted to the Election Commission the details of the entities that had purchased electoral bonds and the political parties that had encased them. According to the apex court order, the Election Commission had to publish the information shared by the bank on its official website by 5 pm on March 15.
